Two pygmy killer whales that were recently rescued from the sea near Koh Chang are gradually recovering from pneumonia under special care of marine veterinarians. One of them is expected to return to the sea in one month.
Both whales were found injured and unable to move on the shore at the Bann Jek Bae beach on Koh Chang. On March 18, tourists reported the first whale at around 7am and the other one at 10am.
Earlier reports said that the whales were found in fishing nets, but that seems not to be the case. Earlier reports also said that the whales were killer whales (orcinus orca), when they are actually pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata). Pygmy killer whales are a member of the dolphin family and named so because they look like killer whales.
Veterinarians from the Eastern Gulf of Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center and Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, have teamed up to provide them with physical therapy to cure their pneumonia, which partially, if not absolutely, caused their symptoms. The mammals are both female and similar in size with one measuring up to two meters long and the other 2.15 meters.
“The smaller whale is doing better than the bigger one,” said Wisan Trakulrangsi, an on-duty veterinarian from the Marine and Coastal Resources Research and Development Center. “She can now move and swim but still have problems with the digestive system.”
Wisan said that the smaller whale could be freed into the sea within one month while the bigger had to be under intensive care for some time.
“Pygmy killer whales are hard to find in the Gulf of Thailand area,” said Wisan. “We may find them at the deep sea but even in that case the number is limited.”
Wisan did not confirm whether large fishing nets were what caused their injuries and infections but did not rule out the possibility.
Both whales are now in a pool at Mahajak Resort, which is not yet in full operations. Wisan also voiced concerns that tourists and local people who traveled to see the marines might have caused them stress, further complicating their recovery.
